Panini America will tip off the new NBA collecting season with a late-February hobby release of 2012 Preferred Basketball, a new high-end addition that will deliver three autographs and one six- or eight-swatch memorabilia booklet card in every pack and will retail for $200.

Preferred will be followed by the triumphant return of the venerable Hoops brand (March), a collecting landmark that ignited the basketball collecting craze with a history-making debut in 1989-90. With a $1 retail pack price, Hoops will appeal to a broad fan base and will also include autographed buybacks of original 1989-90 Hoops cards. Panini also will release a hobby-specific version of Hoops ($2 a pack and $72 a box) that will feature 29 inserts, autographed copies of original 1989-90 Hoops cards and two autographs per box.

“We are excited by the return of the NBA and look forward to delivering NBA trading cards to basketball fans around the world with the release of our 2011-12 NBA products,” said Panini America CEO Mark Warsop . “There was so much excitement for the NBA and its players last season and we are looking forward to picking up where we left off. The time away has only strengthened the demand for Panini NBA trading card products and we’re confident that our new product roster will be well received.”

After Hoops, Panini America will release 2011-12 Limited (May), 2011-12 Past & Present (June) and 2011-12 Gold Standard (July). The Limited and Gold Standard releases will include unique cards redeemable for the first Rookie Cards of members of the 2011-12 and 2012-13 NBA rookie classes.

Panini America is the only company in the world that manufactures fully licensed trading cards and stickers for the NBA, NFL, NFL PLAYERS, NHL, NHLPA, MLBPA and FIFA World Cup. The company also owns exclusive entertainment licenses with Disney, Justin Bieber and Michael Jackson, and more than 600 global licenses with other sports and entertainment properties.

The Chicago based Premier Basketball League is close to finalizing its first contract with a current NBA player and his representatives. Although the details for the first contract have not been made public yet during the negotiations phase, the PBL’s leadership is already in talks with other agents for several key players of the NBA. The contracts come on the heels of a successful “Locked-Out Draft” held by the PBL earlier this summer.

“Basketball is a tradition in America and around the world. We wanted to make sure that even in these tough lock-out times, the stars from one league have an opportunity to reach their fans through a league that isn’t stuck in contract negotiations,” commented Brij M. Desai, Premier Basketball League President and CEO.

With the onset of key NBA players leaving the United States to play international ball, the PBL wants to make sure they know there is a home for them right here in America. The Premier Basketball League has been on a constant rise in the media and in minor league sports after restructuring following the PBL finals this past spring. With only 20 games in the PBL season, this gives the locked-out NBA players a realistic opportunity to play side by side with the communities here domestically that foster growth for their professional careers and fan base.

“We have noticed some of the contracts the NBA players were signing internationally were for long durations of time and we are confident that our short seasons and the salaries proposed far outweigh the benefits of international ball this upcoming season,” continued Desai.

The PBL announced their new regional play model this summer. Last year’s PBL Champions, the Rochester RazorSharks, are joined in 2012 by the Dayton Air Strikers, Team Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Chicago Muscle, Charleston Gunners, and the Sauk Valley Predators. With 2 more teams announcing over the next few weeks, the PBL has a distinct advantage for both the fans and the owners.

“The PBL is a league for the fans. None of the teams joining our league would be there without the fans. Not only do we mandate community involvement by our franchises, we also switched to a regional play model to cut the expense down for team owners. We pride ourselves on having a fan-based, player focused, and cost effective independent basketball league here in America, and that is exactly what we are doing,” finished Desai.

Each of these 15 basketball legends has been meticulously recreated with an uncanny level of detail, including period-specific depictions of their arenas, team uniforms, signature moves, and even historically accurate broadcast presentation styles in NBA 2K12. Gamers will now tap into the legacy of these legendary athletes by utilizing their signature moves, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s unstoppable skyhook, to rule the virtual hardwood.

“Fans across the country were ecstatic to see Jordan, Bird, and Magic on the cover of NBA 2K12, and have speculated for weeks about who would fill out the rest of the ‘NBA’s Greatest’ roster,” said Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports. “These 15 legendary athletes will allow sports fanatics to create the NBA’s most storied matchups – and lock in bragging rights for their favorite teams in NBA 2K12.”

“NBA’s Greatest” legends in NBA 2K12 include:

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar;
• Larry Bird;
• Wilt Chamberlain;
• Julius Erving;
• Patrick Ewing;
• Magic Johnson;
• Michael Jordan;
• Karl Malone;
• Hakeem Olajuwon;
• Scottie Pippen;
• Oscar Robertson;
• Bill Russell;
• John Stockton;
• Isiah Thomas;
• Jerry West.

Bonus Gift with Purchase – Customers who purchase their copy of NBA 2K12 for the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 early will receive two bonus, historic NBA teams featuring their own NBA greats – the 1990-91 Golden State Warriors and the 2001-02 Sacramento Kings. Bonus content will be available on launch orders only, while supplies last.

NBA 2K12 can now be pre-ordered from leading video game retailers nationwide, and will be available on October 4, 2011, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii, PSP and Windows PC.

NBA 2K12 is currently rated E by the ESRB.

1. Location – Before you buy, make sure you have ample space to play. A large, flat, paved surface like a driveway is ideal. Keep in mind it is unsafe (and often illegal) to place a basketball hoop on a street or sidewalk.
2. Portable or In-Ground – A portable basketball hoop has a large plastic base with wheels that provides the flexibility of rolling it to a different area, or even taking it with you if you move. In-ground systems take up less ground space but require cement installation and are permanent. However, they tend to be more rigid and offer slightly more stability for aggressive players.
3. Backboard material – Graphite and polyethylene backboards are designed primarily for young children. Acrylic backboards provide a clear playing surface ideal for beginner or intermediate players. For more serious players, polycarbonate backboards such as the Lifetime Shatter Proof Fusion™ provide high-performance and durability with a clear, arena-style glass look while high-end tempered glass backboards combine professional styling with the best performance and rebound for aggressive players.
4. Backboard size – For young players just learning to shoot, a 44″ backboard is sufficient. Young teens practicing drives to the basket and a wide range of bank shots will benefit from the rebound space of a 48-50″ backboard while aggressive players will appreciate the large 54-60″ and even regulation-sized 72″ boards like those offered on Lifetime Mammoth systems.
5. Height adjustment mechanism – Lifetime Products invented the first adjustable height basketball hoop 25 years ago allowing players of all ages and skill levels to play on the same hoop. To raise and lower the hoop quickly and easily from 7.5 to 10 feet, look for one-handed mechanisms or even effortless pneumatic devices like the Lifetime Power Lift®.

As the world’s leading manufacturer of residential basketball hoops, Lifetime Products offers a variety of both residential portable and in-ground basketball hoops available nationwide at sporting goods stores, discount stores, and online at www.lifetime.com.

Brad Grenoble, owner and general manager of the team, is looking forward to the upcoming season and being a part of the PBL. “Our goal is to bring professional sports to our community, allowing community members the opportunity to experience family fun and excitement right at their back door,” Grenoble said.

Grenoble brings years of experience in the sports industry to the PBL. Prior to his newest venture with the Predators, Grenoble served as marketing director and assistant general manager to the Southern Illinois Miners (a team out of the Frontier Baseball League).  During his two years with the Southern Illinois Miners, Grenoble helped orchestrate the startup of a 25 million dollar stadium for the team. Additionally, Grenoble implemented multiple successful promotions and sponsorship programs.

“When we were looking for a solid Midwest expansion, the northwest region of Illinois was at the top of our list. The Sauk Valley Predators fan base comes from a solid sports and community minded area. We are excited to bring professional basketball at its finest to the region,” commented PBL President and CEO Brij Desai.

The Predators organization is asking for your help in determining the team’s mascot. Those who wish to participate in the online poll should visit www.saukvalleypredators.com to vote.

The Sauk Valley Predators are in the process of bringing on a coaching staff and management for the team. All professional caliber athletes interested in trying out for the Predator program should visit the PBL website for more information on the national combine.

The Predators join the Rochester RazorSharks, Team Scranton Wilkes-Barre, the Chicago Muscle, and the Dayton Air Strikers for the 2012 season. The PBL will announce the final teams for its fifth season of play throughout the summer months.

Social media start-up Tout.com catapulted into the limelight when Shaquille O’Neal, one of the most celebrated players in the NBA, chose the company’s real-time video status update application to announce his decision to retire from the NBA to his millions of fans. Tout enables iPhone users to “in one click” capture quick 15-second video messages that are instantly pushed out to friends, family, followers — or the whole world — through Twitter, Facebook, SMS and email.

“In addition to being one of the greatest basketball players of our time, Shaquille O’Neal is one of the savviest social media influencers out there,” said Michael Downing, founder and CEO of Tout. “We were thrilled that he instantly understood the potential of Tout.  Shaq now effectively has his own real-time media network through Tout, instantly updating his nearly four million Twitter followers and two million Facebook fans, determining the programming solely with his iPhone.”

O’Neal is using Tout to share real-time updates, from breaking his retirement news directly to his fans to the formal press conference scheduled for Friday, June 3. Shaq will be using Tout as his own personal media network, updating his Twitter followers and his Facebook fans directly with new and exciting developments in his life following his retirement from the NBA.

Available for free download in the Apple App Store, Tout makes it simple to capture life’s moments via an iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS or iPad2 and instantly share 15-second video status updates to friends, family or the whole world through Facebook, Twitter, email, SMS and iPhone contacts. The Tout application also alerts users to new Touts, and allows them to watch real-time updates from people they “follow” and Touts that are popular that day. At Tout.com, anyone can browse the community of popular users and see their most recent updates as they Tout them. Tout will be available for Android in July.

adidas unveiled the new adiZero Crazy Light, the lightest shoe in basketball.  At 9.8 ounces, the revolutionary adiZero Crazy Light sets a new standard for basketball footwear at more than 15 percent lighter than the nearest competitor (1) to help players be faster to improve performance on the court.  The adiZero Crazy Light basketball shoe now gives adidas the lightest footwear in three sports including football (adiZero 5-Star cleat) and soccer (F50 adiZero cleat).

“Lighter footwear makes you faster and speed dominates on the basketball court,” said Derrick Rose, two-time NBA All-Star of the top-seeded Chicago Bulls. “The adiZero Crazy Light is the lightest basketball shoe I’ve ever worn and it will no doubt make me faster on the court for our playoff run.”

“No other basketball shoe compares to the new adiZero Crazy Light and it’s a shoe that will revolutionize the game,” said Lawrence Norman, adidas Vice President of Global Basketball. “The ultra lightweight design is built for players who want to be faster, jump higher and perform better on the court. From the NBA’s best to pick-up games across the world, players are asking for light footwear to help them become one step quicker – and the adiZero Crazy Light delivers this in a way like no shoe in history.”

adiZero Crazy Light Technology

More than two years in the making, the adidas Innovation Team (aIT) and adidas Basketball Design developed the adiZero Crazy Light from the canvas of a bare foot to ensure every part of the shoe serves a vital performance function. Only lightweight, highly flexible and durable materials were selected to create the lightest shoe in basketball.

“We wanted to build the ultimate shoe for the ultimate basketball player, and research has clearly shown that a lighter shoe will provide better performance,” said Griff Wilson, senior developer, adidas Innovation Team.  ”The key is to provide the support and cushioning of a traditional basketball shoe in a super lightweight construction.  The Crazy Light, the culmination of two years of design, research, and testing, is the lightest shoe in the market by nearly two ounces and will give basketball players an advantage over the competition.”

The adiZero Crazy Light features a revolutionary new SPRINTWEB exoskeleton upper less than 1mm thick and seamlessly bonded to a nylon textile base to significantly reduce weight and provide increased support and strength.  The web layout of the materials provides vertical and horizontal strength to give players optimum support for any cutting motion.

The SPRINTFRAME external heel counter and TORSION SYSTEM are bonded together to allow maximum weight reduction, energy return and motion control.  Each lace eyelet is load bearing and has a corresponding web spar to support players during hard cuts. The upper is made with translucent nylon to further decrease weight and give players nearly 360 degrees of ventilated comfort.

The adiZero Crazy Light traction system has varied engineered thickness to ensure maximum grip in high wear perimeter zones, and less thickness and weight in low perimeter zones like the midfoot. It also features longitudinal grooves in the heel and forefoot to provide support during extreme forefoot cuts.

The adiZero Crazy Light will be available June 3 in four colorways for $130 including sharp blue/white, black/red/white, grey/white/neon green and red/white. It will roll out in six additional team colorways through September and will be available at Foot Locker, Eastbay and www.shopadidas.com.

In its 26th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, today announced Bradley Beal of Chaminade College Preparatory (St. Louis, Mo.) as its 2010-11 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year.  Beal was surprised with the news in his global issues class by former NBA Champion Alonzo Mourning, who earned Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year honors in 1987-88.

“When I received the award in 1988, it was such a pivotal moment for me as an athlete.  I’m grateful to be a part of this moment for Bradley, who is truly a phenomenal student-athlete on and off the court,” said Mourning, a Gold Medalist, seven-time NBA All-Star, and two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. “Gatorade has been on the sidelines fueling athletic performance for years, so to be recognized by a brand that understands the game and truly helps athletes perform is a huge honor for these kids.”

As the recipient of the 228th Gatorade National Player of the Year trophy to be awarded since 1985, Beal becomes the first student-athlete from the state of Missouri to earn Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year honors. Only two other Missourians have earned Gatorade National Player of the Year recognition in any sport—former Olympian and retired MLS midfielder Matt McKeon of De Smet Jesuit (1991-92) and retired Major Indoor Soccer League defender Kevin Hundelt of Aquinas-Mercy (1985-86).

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Beal as the nation’s best high school boys basketball player.  A national advisory panel comprised of sport-specific experts and sports journalists helped select Beal from more than 540,000 boys basketball players nationwide. Beal is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year award, to be presented at a special ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards in July.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound senior shooting guard averaged 32.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game this past season, shooting 73 percent from the field and leading the Red Devils (27-1) to the Class 5 quarterfinals.  The state’s returning Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Beal concluded his prep career with 2,634 points, the fourth-highest scoring total in greater St. Louis history.

Beal was named the MVP of the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship after leading Team USA to an 8-0 record and the gold medal, averaging a team-best 18.3 points along with 3.5 rebounds, two assists and 2.3 steals per game.  A 2011 McDonald’s High School All-American, he is also a 2011 Jordan Brand Classic selection and is ranks as the nation’s No. 7 recruit in the ESPNU Top 100.  He helped Chaminade Prep to a state title as a sophomore in 2009.

Beal has maintained a 91.7 average in the classroom. He has volunteered on behalf of the St. Patrick Center, Missouri’s largest homeless services provider, and the St. Augustine Wellston Center for the needy, in addition to visiting the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital as a goodwill ambassador to patients. Beal has also donated his time as a youth basketball camp and clinic instructor in addition to participating in Focus St. Louis, a diversity and multicultural initiative.

“This was a year full of outstanding candidates for Gatorade Player of the Year, so Bradley Beal winning says a lot about how perfectly he exemplifies everything the award is about,” said ESPN’s National Director of Recruiting for basketball, Paul Biancardi. “As a player, he’s one of the best shooters in all of high school basketball, and beyond that, he’s improved his game so he can use dribble-penetration to shake defenders, he’s rebounding at a high margin, his passing is improved and, as a result, he’s become one of the best all-around guards in the country. When you look at his makeup, he has a unique ability to help his team win. There’s not a greater complement than that.”

Beal has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on scholarship at the University of Florida this fall.

“Without question, Bradley  is deserving of recognition as the nation’s best high school boys basketball player based on his statistics on the court and the impact his accomplishments have had on Chaminade’s  success,” said Gatorade Senior Vice President of Sports Marketing Jennifer Storms.  ”But he is also a shining example to peers and aspiring young athletes of what a leader and a student-athlete should be.  He represents everything we hope for in a Gatorade Player of the Year recipient.”

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by ESPN RISE and the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

XOS Digital announced that it is expanding its XOS HD Replay product line to now include a version formatted specifically for college basketball.  The announcement was made by Chris McCleary, CEO, XOS Digital.

“The need for instant replay in college basketball is apparent, yet there are several factors to consider when implementing a replay system,” McCleary said. “Decision makers must consider the number of televised games, amount of space available courtside, the ease of use required for a fast-paced sport and the need to evaluate officials’ performance on the court.  The XOS HD Replay system for basketball was designed specifically for the basketball market, with the capability to meet the replay needs among all conferences at a very affordable price.”

XOS Digital’s newest replay product uses the same core technology found within the XOS HD Replay system for football, which was used by the SEC, Big 12, WAC and Conference USA during the 2010 college football season as well as in 18 bowl games including 2 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) games. 

The XOS HD Replay system for basketball utilizes a minimum of two high definition IP cameras that allow plays to be reviewed in HD from multiple angles. A video stream of the shot clock provided by a dedicated camera is inserted into the court camera video feed, which then displays the clock on the officials’ monitor. This process has been designed to guarantee synchronization between the shot clock and streaming video feeds.  In addition to the shot clock feed, the system can record up to three channels of video allowing TV, in house production, coaches’ cameras or streaming feeds to be ingested, and expanding the capabilities of the replay system to accommodate officiating and production needs.  Replay technicians tag and mark plays according to the type of foul or violation, and which official made the call. The system operates from a laptop on the scorer’s table and can be used for both men’s and women’s basketball home games played in the same or separate facilities.

Basketball instant replay has recently been adopted by conferences in the collegiate market as broadcast feeds often used for review are not always available.  The XOS Replay system for basketball in standard definition is currently used by the WAC, Sun Belt and Mid-American Conference. The HD version will now be available directly to conferences and to individual schools in the collegiate market.

The XOS HD Replay system for basketball is compatible with XOS Review, a web-based software application for managing, grading, training and scheduling conference officials. A subscription to XOS Review comes standard with the purchase of the basketball replay system. Accessible from any online computer, XOS Review enables conference administrators to view full game reports and video associated with each marked play in order to grade officials. Reports can be broken down or generated by team, official, review type, violation and foul. Plays marked for review in the XOS HD Replay system are automatically exported to XOS Review after games conclude. All plays marked as a “critical play” are automatically and immediately exported into XOS Review, which then sends an e-mail to the director of officials with a link to the video clip for review in real time via computer or smartphone.

“Together, XOS HD Replay and XOS Review provide workflow efficiency and clear advantages to the schools, conferences and officials,” McCleary said.

Functionality of XOS HD Replay system includes:

• HD video playback
• Data entry of fouls and violations
• Records continuously regardless of playback state
• Accurate shot clock synchronization
• Integrate video and data with XOS Review
• Export capabilities for post production, storage purposes and grading officials
• Reporting functionality

The season kicks off on March 31 with the highly-anticipated game between defending champions, Los Capitanes de Arecibo (The Arecibo Captains), and the 2010 runner-up, Los Vaqueros de Bayamon (The Bayamon Cowboys).

More than 80 years old, Puerto Rico’s Basketball League (BSN, for its Spanish acronym) is well-recognized around the world, and a number of current NBA players got their start with the BSN, including Jose Juan Barea (Dallas Mavericks), Carlos Arroyo (Boston Celtics) and Renaldo Balkman (New York Knicks).

“Puerto has a rich basketball tradition and the sport is extremely popular among Puerto Ricans and many other Hispanic audiences,” said Jose E. Ramos, President of WAPA Television.  ”This is a unique and excellent product for our distribution partners and we are pleased to offer it exclusively to our audience.”

Ten teams will make up the 2011 BSN tournament, with each team playing 30 games.  The full schedule can be accessed on www.WapaAmerica.com in the coming days.

WAPA America is the U.S. cable network arm of WAPA Television, the leading broadcast station in Puerto Rico.  WAPA America is viewed in more than 3.5 million homes throughout the U.S. and distributed on major cable, satellite and telco providers, including DirecTV, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Verizon FiOS, and AT&T U-verse.